Paddy Pimblett: Ilia Topuria will never recover from Gaethje loss
Paddy Pimblett believes Ilia Topuria's first career defeat will permanently damage the former featherweight champion's psyche.
Topuria suffered a brutal stoppage loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC White House earlier this month when his corner pulled him out before the fifth round of their lightweight title fight. According to Pimblett, who spoke on Demetrious Johnson's YouTube channel, the unbeaten Georgian has never experienced adversity and lacks the mental fortitude to bounce back. "I don't think Ilia's as mentally tough as he thinks he is," Pimblett said, per MMA Fighting.
Pimblett contrasts own Gaethje experience with Topuria collapse
Pimblett dropped a decision to Gaethje in January for the interim lightweight strap but argues his previous experience with losses prepared him to handle setbacks. Topuria, by contrast, reportedly built his entire identity around being undefeated and celebrating before fights. "His whole mindset, his whole ego is like, 'I'm undefeated. No one can beat me,'" Pimblett said. "Having celebrations the night before the fight. I just don't think he'll ever be the same."
The Liverpudlian pointed to Gaethje's pre-fight prediction that Topuria would wilt in the later rounds, which Topuria dismissed by insisting the bout would not leave the first. When it did, Pimblett said, doubt crept in. "So when it goes past the first and then past the second, it's in Ilia's head already. 'Oh my god, he's right!'" Pimblett added. He dismissed the long-rumored matchup between the two as a mismatch, calling Topuria a "fat featherweight" who moved up a division too soon.
Pimblett faces Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event of UFC 329 next month. Topuria is not expected to compete again in 2026 given the damage sustained against Gaethje.
Original reporting:
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